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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Russia summons UK envoy over row | Russia summons UK envoy over row |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| The Russian foreign ministry has summoned the UK ambassador amid an escalating row over the reopening of two British Council offices. | The Russian foreign ministry has summoned the UK ambassador amid an escalating row over the reopening of two British Council offices. |
| The Council's branches reopened on Monday despite a government ban. | The Council's branches reopened on Monday despite a government ban. |
| Russia called the move a "provocation" and said it would not issue new visas to British Council staff. | Russia called the move a "provocation" and said it would not issue new visas to British Council staff. |
| The offices were ordered to shut last month in the latest clash over the fatal poisoning of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko in London. | The offices were ordered to shut last month in the latest clash over the fatal poisoning of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko in London. |
| The branches which reopened are in St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. The ban does not apply to the British Council's Moscow office. | The branches which reopened are in St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. The ban does not apply to the British Council's Moscow office. |
| 'Inflaming tensions' | 'Inflaming tensions' |
| A statement on the Russian foreign ministry's website said: "Russia views such actions as an intentional provocation aimed at inflaming tensions in Russian-British relations. | A statement on the Russian foreign ministry's website said: "Russia views such actions as an intentional provocation aimed at inflaming tensions in Russian-British relations. |
| UK-RUSSIA ROW Nov 2006: Alexander Litvinenko dies in LondonMay 2007: UK accuses ex-KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi of murderJuly: Russia refuses UK request to extradite Mr LugovoiJuly: UK expels four Russian diplomatsJuly: Russia expels four British embassy staffDecember: Russia tells British Council to shut two officesJan 2008: British Council re-opens both offices Russia's new frontUK-Russia spy war | UK-RUSSIA ROW Nov 2006: Alexander Litvinenko dies in LondonMay 2007: UK accuses ex-KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi of murderJuly: Russia refuses UK request to extradite Mr LugovoiJuly: UK expels four Russian diplomatsJuly: Russia expels four British embassy staffDecember: Russia tells British Council to shut two officesJan 2008: British Council re-opens both offices Russia's new frontUK-Russia spy war |
| "The Russian side will not issue visas to new employees sent to work in the (British) consular offices of St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg to carry out British Council work." | "The Russian side will not issue visas to new employees sent to work in the (British) consular offices of St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg to carry out British Council work." |
| The UK embassy in the Russian capital declined to comment on the schedule of the ambassador, Sir Tony Brenton. | The UK embassy in the Russian capital declined to comment on the schedule of the ambassador, Sir Tony Brenton. |
| But BBC Moscow correspondent Richard Galpin says the envoy will appear at the Russian foreign ministry on Monday afternoon. | But BBC Moscow correspondent Richard Galpin says the envoy will appear at the Russian foreign ministry on Monday afternoon. |
| He says the escalating diplomatic crisis between the two countries is now coming to a head and it is not clear if either side is willing to back down. | He says the escalating diplomatic crisis between the two countries is now coming to a head and it is not clear if either side is willing to back down. |
| The British Council, which aims to promote cultural and educational ties, was accused of violating Russian tax rules. | The British Council, which aims to promote cultural and educational ties, was accused of violating Russian tax rules. |
| A spokesman for the Council insisted on Monday that its activities were "fully compliant with Russian and international law". | A spokesman for the Council insisted on Monday that its activities were "fully compliant with Russian and international law". |
| "We believe we're caught up in a political matter," the spokesman told the BBC News website. | "We believe we're caught up in a political matter," the spokesman told the BBC News website. |
| 'Valuable work' | 'Valuable work' |
| The British Council's chief executive, Martin Davidson, said they would continue talking to the Russians in the hope of continuing their work. | The British Council's chief executive, Martin Davidson, said they would continue talking to the Russians in the hope of continuing their work. |
| He told the BBC: "We have to understand the issues, the problems they have with our work, but we believe [our work] is enormously valuable. | He told the BBC: "We have to understand the issues, the problems they have with our work, but we believe [our work] is enormously valuable. |
| Russia has linked its action to wider British-Russian tensions | Russia has linked its action to wider British-Russian tensions |
| "We know ordinary Russian people believe it is of real value to them, as well of course to us here in the UK, to have that relationship with Russia." | "We know ordinary Russian people believe it is of real value to them, as well of course to us here in the UK, to have that relationship with Russia." |
| The offices in Yekaterinburg are on the premises of the UK consulate-general. | The offices in Yekaterinburg are on the premises of the UK consulate-general. |
| The row came on top of continuing tensions over the death of former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko in London in November 2006. He had been given a fatal dose of radioactive polonium 210. | The row came on top of continuing tensions over the death of former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko in London in November 2006. He had been given a fatal dose of radioactive polonium 210. |
| The UK wants Russia to hand over businessman Andrei Lugovoi, whom UK investigators suspect of murdering Mr Litvinenko. | The UK wants Russia to hand over businessman Andrei Lugovoi, whom UK investigators suspect of murdering Mr Litvinenko. |
| When Russia refused to extradite Mr Lugovoi, Britain expelled four Russian diplomats and Moscow followed suit. | When Russia refused to extradite Mr Lugovoi, Britain expelled four Russian diplomats and Moscow followed suit. |
| Russian officials have described the action against the British Council as a retaliatory measure. | Russian officials have described the action against the British Council as a retaliatory measure. |
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